Club History | Season 2012-2013
Administration and relegation through a play off
Pre-Season Preparations and Squad Changes
As the new season approached, Pars fans comforted themselves with the hope that, with Jim Jefferies in charge, they could enjoy a year against easier opposition and gain promotion back to top division at first time of asking. Nick Phinn and Steven Bell had not started all season and would have to prove their fitness. Paul Gallacher had also missed the second half of the season through injury.
Leaving the club were Kyle Hutton, whose loan from Rangers was not extended, Austin McCann, Mark Kerr, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Alex Keddie, Martin Hardie, David Graham, Steven McDougall, Chris Smith and Gary Mason, who had retired. Pat Clarke and Jason Thomson had already left during the season. Coming in were Josh Falkingham, Andy Geggan, Stephen Jordan, Stephen Husband, Ryan Wallace, Chris Kane, Alex Whittle and Michal Hrivnak. Veteran striker Craig Dargo was also signed, mainly to help coach the young players. Youngsters Ivan D`Angelo and Faissal el Bakhtaoui also arrived. Paddy Boyle went, on loan, to Gateshead.
Early Season - July and August
The season began with a disappointing 3-2 defeat away to Forfar in the Challenge Cup. Joe McBride passed away. August began with a splendid 4-0 win at Central Park, in the League, but the first home game ended in a 1-0 defeat from Partick Thistle. News was sadly received of the death of Pars Legend Jim Thomson. Airdrie United were beaten 2-1 as the good away form continued and the month ended with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Montrose in the League Cup. Calum Morris made his debut in this match after his recent signing.
September - Strong Home and Away Form
Raith Rovers were the first visitors in September. 5634 fans witnessed a rousing win 3-1 for The Pars. Jason Thomson and Pat Clarke both played for Rovers. Another victory on the road with a 2-0 win at Dumbarton, preceded the home fixture with Livingston, which ended in a 4-0 win for The Pars. Paul Willis went on loan to East Fife and Paul Burns returned to Queen of the South before the third round League Cup tie at home to Aberdeen. The SPL side won a tight match 1-0.
October - Mixed Results
October began with a 2-2 draw at the Falkirk Stadium. With a blank week next, Morton at home followed with another 2-2 draw. Both Martin Hardie and Kevin Rutkiewicz lined up for Morton. The month finished with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Cowdenbeath.
November - High and Low Points
The first Saturday in November had no football. The second Saturday had no football for The Pars as they were thumped 5-1 by Partick Thistle at Firhill. It was back to form on the third Saturday as Raith Rovers were beaten 3-1 at Starks Park and when Dumbarton were well beaten 4-0 at East End Park, everything seemed rosy on the playing front. The team had been performing well and were top of the League along with Partick Thistle. In the background, however, there were worrying stories of severe financial difficulties and players not being paid on time.
December - Financial Troubles Emerge
Nevertheless, December started with progress in the Cup after a 1-0 win away to Partick Thistle. Andy Barrowman got the winner and Paul Gallacher saved a penalty. As Christmas approached, problems with wages continued and now HMRC were reported to be interested. The next game was at home to Hamilton Accies and less than 3,000 turned up to see a 1-1 draw. There was little Christmas cheer on Boxing Day as Falkirk won 1-0 at East End Park. The year ended amidst worrying times off the park and a 4-2 defeat on it at Cappielow.
January - New Year, Mixed Fortunes
Unlike most new years, The Pars opened with a win at home to Raith Rovers, thanks to an Andy Geggan goal. Three days later another 1-0 victory, this time at Dumbarton, and Dunfermline were top of the League on goal difference, over Morton. It came unstuck the following week with a 3-1 defeat at home to Airdrie United. Airdrie have a special breed of supporter but one individual managed a remarkable high a few years previously when he was arrested on Halbeath Road for "Barking at a Police Dog". Only 2461 fans witnessed the last game in January, a 1-0 home defeat by Livingston, which dropped the team down to third.
February - Squad Changes and Declining Form
February began with a 2-0 defeat from Hamilton Accies in the Cup, but the following week, Athletic reversed the result by winning 2-1 at New Douglas Park, this time in the League. Youngsters Shaun Byrne and Ross Millen were in the starting line up and it was another infrequent starter, Chris Kane, who got the winner. Ivan D`Angelo was released. Sad news received of the death of Ian Lister, a member of the 1968 Cup Winning side. Two away defeats, 4-2 at Cowdenbeath and 1-0 at Falkirk were the prequel to a resounding 4-1 thumping at home to League leaders Morton.
March - Crisis Point and Administration
Another home fixture welcomed March, with Partick Thistle the visitors. With the team now slipped to fourth, second placed Thistle ran rampant with a 4-0 win. A trip to Airdrie ended 3-3 before another away match in Kirkcaldy. An Andy Geggan equaliser saved a 1-1 draw. There were still three games to play this month. The poor home form continued as relegation threatened Dumbarton won 4-3 at East End Park, former Par Steven McDougall netting two goals.
The sky fell in on The Pars on the night of 26th March when it was announced that they had gone into administration. The misery continued the following night when Falkirk won 2-0 at East End Park. Before the week ended, the administrator cancelled the contracts of the backbone of the team, with support staff to follow. The Scottish League imposed a 15 point deduction and now relegation was more likely than promotion - if the club survived - which the administrator felt was unlikely. Lost to the team were Paul Gallacher, Jordan McMillan, Stephen Jordan, Andy Dowie, Joe Cardle, Andy Kirk and Andrew Barrowman along with Assistant Manager Gerry McCabe.
Despite all this a 2-2 draw was brought back from Livingston with only five of those who had played the previous match: Kerr Young (who had made his debut that night), Chris Kane, Stephen Husband, Ryan Wallace and Josh Falkingham. Andy Geggan was still injured. In came rookies Michal Hrivnak, Ross Millen, Alex Whittle and substitutes Shaun Byrne, Allan Smith, Grant Munro, Ross Drummond and Ryan Goodfellow, along with coaches John Potter and Craig Dargo.
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April - Fighting for Survival
The 1st April saw the formation of Pars United, created to try to save the Club. The first action of the month found Dunfermline at home to Hamilton Accies. The young side deserved a draw but got a 3-2 defeat. Allan Smith got his first start in this game. A thrilling 1-0 win at Cappielow, courtesy of Ryan Thomson, cheered the camp up for a while. With the points deduction confirmed and administration accepted in the courts, a Stephen Husband goal gave The Pars a home win against Cowdenbeath put Athletic ahead of their Fife rivals and out of the relegation spot. The penultimate game was at Firhill and a cruel equaliser in the fifth minute of injury time, robbed Dunfermline of two points which could have saved them. Instead they went into the last game one point ahead of Cowdenbeath and with a much better goal difference. Airdrie United had already been relegated.
May - The Great Escape Attempt and Play-offs
Into May and the opponents were Airdrie at home. Surely The Pars would complete A Great Escape. No was the answer as an inept performance ended in a 2-1 defeat. Worse still, Cowdenbeath won their match to go back above Dunfermline. The play-off semi final was against Dick Campbell`s part time but experienced Forfar Athletic. The Loons won the first leg at Station Park, with ease, 3-1.
As you would expect, Dick had his side wound up for the second leg, at East End Park, and they took an early lead to make it 4-1 on aggregate. Calm down and concentrate should have been the tactic, instead they lost control first of themselves then of the match. Former Par Marc McCulloch was red carded after a last man tackle. His behaviour was appalling, taking an eternity to go off. Even then Stephen Husband botched the spot kick. The reaction of the Forfar team was ridiculous and former Pars player Chris Templeman was lucky to escape with a yellow card after a wild tackle. Dunfermline got a lucky equaliser when Michael Dunlop scored an own goal. Half time arrived at 1-1 (2-4 on aggregate).
Dick had not used the interval to calm his players down. A silly foul by Dunlop on Whittle reduced Forfar to nine men and in the ensuing rammy, Dick was sent to the stand along with Neil McCann. Ryan Thomson scored to put Dunfermline ahead 2-1 on the day. Soon afterwards, the ball went into The Loons box and hit an arm. The referee awarded a penalty and yet another former Par, Iain Campbell, got himself booked for complaining too strongly to the referee. Ross Millen had the composure to slot home the penalty to level the tie on aggregate. The action continued as Iain, behaving like an idiot, got himself sent off for continuing to remonstrate with the ref. Forfar were now down to eight men as full time arrived with the scores level on aggregate. Allan Smith scored to put Athletic ahead for the first time and Stephen Husband scored two more to seal the win against exhausted opponents.
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Play-off Final
The opponents for the final would be Alloa Athletic and a nervy first leg in Alloa saw The Wasps take the lead, then gain a second just before the interval. A killer third goal in the second half gave them a big advantage to take to East End Park. Paul Hartley had his team well organised and, with Graeme Holmes starring in midfield, they held out to lose by only a single goal. The best player on the park was Stephen Simmons, a player often maligned by Pars fans.
Season Summary and Reflections
For the second season in a row, the young team had failed at the last to maintain their status. This time, though, Pars fans had much more to worry about as the Club was by no means sure of being in existence next season. Thank goodness there were several individuals who came forward and contributed large sums of money and/or time. There were even more ordinary fans who gave what they could in collections and fund raising activities. Pars United did a good job in bringing together the varying supporters groups and concentrating minds on the need to work together. A new board was formed under Bob Garmory, the Purvis Group remained as main sponsors and much else besides.
Jim Jefferies had been a marvellous statesman throughout and managed to keep players together against well nigh impossible odds. What backroom staff remained performed like trojans, each performing the work of several. On the park Josh Falkingham and Stephen Husband led the way with 39 appearances, 30 different players appeared and the top scorer was Andrew Barrowman with 14. If there is to be a next season - What would it bring?
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